The beautiful city of Santa Clara is also the capital of the Cuban province of Villa Clara. You are probably wondering what to do in Santa Clara. The truth is that it is an ideal place for history lovers in general and for those who want to experience the most authentic Cuban lifestyle. Being located in the central area, it is one of the most interesting destinations you will visit in Cuba, which will allow you to get to know the history and culture of the country.
The tomb of Che Guevara, the Vidal Park… This city has so many gems to offer travelers, so read this post carefully to find out all the places you must see in Santa Clara. Below we will give you absolutely all the tips you should take into account before traveling to Santa Clara. This way once there you will only have to worry about enjoying yourself and taking lots of pictures.
What are the best places to see in Santa Clara?
1. The Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
The beautiful Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the oldest and most important church you will find in Santa Clara. In fact, the base was built in 1748, while the construction of its bell tower was not completed until 1847. This religious temple has a great historical value because it served as a prison in the 19th century during the War of Independence. It is a neoclassical church with bright white facade also three magnificent bells.
In addition, the Church of Nuestra Señora del Carmen is located in a very central location, in the heart of Parque del Carmen. Both the park and the church have been declared national monuments of great historical value. Around the church there are several places that you can’t miss. One of them is the monument that commemorates the founding of the city. On all the columns of the monument you will find carved names of the representatives of the first settler families.
2. The Memorial of Comandante Che Guevara
One of the most important memorials of the famous Comandante Che Guevara is in Santa Clara. The Che Guevara Mausoleum is an impressive memorial where the remains of Che, and other soldiers who fought along with him, rest. The monument consists of a square and a large pillar on which stands a statue of the guerrilla fighter. At his feet we can read “Hasta la victoria siempre” (Ever onward to victory). This mausoleum was inaugurated in 1988 for the anniversary of the battle of Santa Clara. It was a very important battle for all the Cuban people because it was one of the most decisive victories.
3. The City House
The Casa de la Ciudad is a must-see for those interested in learning first-hand about the Cuban lifestyle of the 19th century. It is a renovated domestic building that was built in 1860. The City House, besides having an important architectural value, is one of the most important symbols in Santa Clara. At the beginning it was a house, then the building of the Municipal Board of Education and nowadays it offers cultural services to the community.
4. The Vidal Park
The Vidal Park is one of the places that without a doubt you are going to see in Santa Clara because it is located in the historic center of the city. In addition, in 1999 it was declared a National Monument of the Republic of Cuba. Inside the park there are numerous sculptures that you will love to discover, such as the famous fountain of The Boy with the Leaking Boot or the Glorieta in the center of the park.
This is a very important point in the city because of the number of architecturally important buildings that surround it. Among these buildings are the Caridad Theater, the José Martí Provincial Library or the Museum of Decorative Arts. So you can take advantage of your visit to Vidal Park to see other monuments.
5. The Museum Train
The Museum Train refers to the battle led by Che Guevara, in which he managed to derail an armored train carrying troops and weapons of the Batista government. Precisely because of this, the Rebel Army was better armed and thus was able to defeat the government. This museum is one of the places you have to see in Santa Clara. It consists of four original wagons. In each of them you can see multiple weapons, photos and original maps. And you can even see one of the bulldozer machines that were used to make the train overturn!
6. Glory Street
La Calle de la Gloria is one of the most recognizable streets you will see in Santa Clara. The colorful and atmospheric street makes it totally worth a visit. It is important to mention that in the verbena de la Gloria a big party is held in which the image of the virgin that Santa Clara received is carried to the end of the street. There are also dances, activities and sweets everywhere that are delicious. It takes place on August 12, so if it coincides with your vacation in Cuba we recommend that you do not miss this party.
7. The Che Guevara Statue
This famous statue was made by the Basque artist Casto Marroyo and depicts Che Guevara with a child in his arms. The artist used his own son Sandro as a model to represent the child Che is holding. The child represents the future generations of the Cuban people. It is a bronze statue that contains many details about Che’s life. Curiously, in his pocket he carries the book of Don Quixote de la Mancha because this guerrilla read it while in hiding.
Despite not being in a very central location it is worth coming to see it first hand because it is a representation that sincerely impresses visitors.
8. The Provincial Museum
The Provincial Museum of Santa Clara is highly recommended. First of all because the building itself already has history, it is an old sign that after many changes has ended up being a museum. It has three large rooms dedicated to different areas: history, natural sciences and culture. Although it should be noted that if you don’t have much time, the history part is the most important and the one you can not miss.
The entrance fee is only 1 CUC and it is open from Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 19:00, while on Saturdays from 8:00 to 15:00. Go and see all their collections!
9. The Boulevard
If during your trip to Santa Clara you feel like shopping for a while, we recommend you go to the Boulevard. You will find it a very appealing avenue. In this great street you will find absolutely everything: shopping stores, cafes, restaurants. Although the hotels and restaurants on the Boulevard are more expensive than usual, it is worth taking a stroll through the most cosmopolitan artery of Santa Clara.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
Things to do around Santa Clara
1. Hanabanilla Lake
Hanabanilla Lake is located in the municipality of Manicaragua, within the same province of Villa Clara. It is a natural paradise that you can enjoy a lot if you want to disconnect and relax during your vacations in Santa Clara. Despite being an artificial lake, Hebanilla Lake is surprisingly beautiful. It is surrounded by beautiful native vegetation and is quite large, with an area of 192 km2 and an average depth of between 30 and 40 meters.
There you can take the opportunity to go hiking and visit very cool places in its surroundings, such as the waterfall of Love or the path of Ferns. Don’t miss the opportunity to get close to Hanabanilla Lake, just 57 kilometers from Santa Clara.
2. City of Remedios
The city of Remedios is only 44 kilometers by car from Santa Clara, less than an hour away! Its entire historic center has been declared a National Monument. Remedios is in general a very quiet city full of legends and history. During your visit you will see the beauty that radiates from its exquisite buildings, parks, and monuments. If you can, we recommend that you go to their popular festivals. The Parrandas are the most renowned festivities in the entire province of Villa Clara. There you can enjoy with the locals huge floats, fireworks and even dance contests.
If you want to discover more places to visit during your trip to the province of Villa Clara, don’t miss our post mentioning all the places you can’t miss.
What to see in Santa Clara in a day
If you only have one day to visit this beautiful city, the places to see in Santa Clara are:
- The Memorial of Comandante Che Guevara.
- The Church of Nuestra Señora del Carmen.
- The Vidal Park.
- The Museum Train.
- The City House.
Where and what to eat in Santa Clara
One of the best things to do in Santa Clara is to try the delicious dishes of Cuban gastronomy. Cuban gastronomy can be tasted through ventanitas (individuals who serve the dishes from their windows), in national restaurants (run by the government) or in paladares (privately run restaurants). Whichever place you decide, you have to try the delicious and hearty Ropa Vieja, composed of shredded beef, mixed with a tomato sauce, onion, olives, garlic, salt and pepper, and served with rice. Also not to be missed are the Vaca Frita, the Moros y Cristianos, or the Sandwich Cubano. In Santa Clara in particular, you should go to:
- Hostal Florida Center: If you want to try the most authentic Caribbean food, we recommend starting at Hostal Florida Center. It is a super interesting place, where you will be at all times surrounded by many antique objects. Also the vegetation of the inner courtyard makes this restaurant an amazing place.
- La Aldaba: An authentic Cuban restaurant for its calm and cheerful atmosphere. La Aldaba also has a very nice terrace. The food is not only good, but has more than adequate prices without exaggerations for tourists.
- Complejo Gastronomico Cultural Santa Rosalia: It is a buffet full of Cuban dishes and also dishes from other countries. The attention and the plating make the Complejo Gastronomico Cultural Santa Rosalia a place that enchants all its customers.
Where to stay in Santa Clara
- Hostal Vista Park: It is undoubtedly one of the best Bed and breakfast to discover the wonderful city of Santa Clara. Hostal Vista Park is located right in the center, which will allow you to see Santa Clara very comfortably. It is a colonial house with a wonderful eclectic architecture, so it reminds you of a small palace and the views of the city are unique. The double room for two people costs approximately 66 euros.
- Suite Florencia: This wonderful accommodation is the ideal bed and breakfast if you are visiting Santa Clara as a couple. All its rooms include minibar, air conditioning and refrigerator. In addition, from the Suite Florencia you can walk to the Che Guevara mausoleum or the Leoncio Vidal Park among others. The double room for two people costs approximately 70 euros.
- Hostal D’ Cordero: Hostal D’ Cordero is a huge house located in the center of Santa Clara, near the Leoncio Vidal park. This hostel has only five comfortable private rooms. All of them are of high standard, and include both natural ventilation and air conditioning. You’re going to love it! The double room for two people costs approximately 65 euros.
How to organize the things to do on your trip to Santa Clara
- Get inspired by other travelers’ experiences, photos and itineraries.
- Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions into it.
- Add the stops you are most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest we listed in this post as a reference).
- Organize your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can be inspired by the routes we present in the post).
- Check out the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Make the modifications you need and you’ll be all set for your trip.
- Share your experience. Upload photos of each of the places you visited on your trip to the app to inspire other users.
- If you have doubts about how to do it, you can check our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter.
Frequently asked questions about a trip to Santa Clara
To fly to Santa Clara (SNU) it is best to depart from Madrid (MAD). The flight lasts about 16h 10m, including average stopovers of about 4h 20m.
Cuban gastronomy can be tasted in ventanitas (dishes served from windows), in national restaurants and in paladares. You have to try the delicious and hearty Ropa Vieja, the Vaca Frita, the Moros y Cristianos, or the Cuban Sandwich. In Santa Clara in particular, we recommend you try the Hostal Florida Center, la Aldaba, and the Complejo Gastronomico Cultural Santa Rosalia.
You can stay at the Hostal Vista Park, the Suite Florencia, and Hostal D’ Cordero. They are great and very central!
Santa Clara has a tropical savanna climate. As a result, it is hot every month of the year, both in the dry and wet seasons. The average annual temperature in Santa Clara is 27°.
The best time to visit Santa Clara in Cuba is from January to September. During this period there is practically always a warm temperature and very little rainfall.
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